Rotative winged aircraft



Patented May22, 1945 Kenneth P. Synnestvedt', Bryn Athyn, Pa., as-I signor to Autogiro Company o! America, Philadelphia, Pa'., a corporation of Delaware Application September 4, 1942, Serial No. 457,265

I 1s claims. (cum-17) This invention relates to rotative Iwinged aircraft and is more particularly concernedwith a novel arrangement of certain of the fundamental structural elements incorporated in the rotor hub. The invention is applicable either to an aircraft of `thehelicopter type, or t'o an aircraft of the autorotative winged type, or to machines capable of both types of operation,

Stated broadly, some of the mostimportant objects of the inventionare the provision of an l0 improved type of rotor control, by' which maneuvering may be effected, and-also the'provision of a novel blade and hub .mounting providing improvement in smoothnessof operation in several respects, as will further'appear. Y

To bring out the nature of the improvements herein contemplated, reference is firstA made to certainknown types oi rotors and rotor control.

` At this point it is mentioned that sustaining rotors 'for aircraft commonly incorporate some 20' `means for compensating for dirential lift effects as between the advancing and retreating vsides of vthe rotor during translationalight. Usually* blade pivots are .provided for this purpose, the pivots providing freedom for at least 25 some bladenswinging movement in a direction generally transverse the mean rotativepath of travel of the blades. i t

As is now well understood in this-art, control moments in a rotative winged aircraft may be secured by shifting the positionA of the lift line of the rotor with respect to the center of gravity of t the machine. With mostlnown types of .control systems, the shift in the lift line of the rotor is an "angular shift, this being achieved either by- 35 bodily tilting 4the rotor` hub (as disclosed 'in copending application of 'Juan de la Cierva, .Serial No. 645,985, filed December 6, 1932, corresponding to British Patent N0. 393,976) 0r byimpOS- ing periodic differential change of blade pitch 40 n during 'rotation of the rotor A(as disclosed in copending applicationof Juan de la Cierva, Serial p'lication 645,985, the stability and stillness characteristics of a control system of the tilting type are'de'pendent 'in part upon the vertical distance between the horizontal plane 4of the pivots con-r necting the blades with the hub and the 'horizon'- tal plane of the fulcrums onwhich the'hub may be tilted. 'As pointed out' in said application, moreover. the extent of offset of the blade pivots from the axis of the hub'determines the vertical focar points, i. e., the points at which the lift' line ofthe resultant aerodynamic reaction of the rotor 4(projected on longitudinal and transverse i trol increases as the focal'pointsrare raised. It will be seen, therefore, that one important facplanes) intersects the rotational axis ofthe hub at variou'sdifferent angles of incidence of the vrotor as a whole with respect to the flight wind.

In general, the' greater thevoiset .of the blade pivots the higher are the focal points and, assuming a given vertical position of the tilting trunnions for the hub, the stiiness of the conftor in determining vthe stability and stiffness characteristics of a tiltingJ control system is the vertical distance between said' focal points and the trunnions on which the hub may be tilted.

i Therefore, even with the tilting trunnions locatqo :acteristi'cs .will automatically return the rotor to.

` disturbance.

No. 698,372, led November 16, 1933,'corespondy -ing to British Patent No. 410,532);

i In accordance with the disclosureof Cierva ap- 45 point of hub tilting.

ed inthe same plane as the blade pivots, substantial oil'setting of the blade pivots from the axis of rotation will raise the focal points well above the tilting trunnions. V

Another characteristic of a rotor system above described 'which should be kept in mind is that, in the event of an air disturbanceat one side of th'e rotor, forces are set up tending to-tilt.

theY rotor in a direction to shed the effect of the disturbance. With the hub tilting fulcrums 1ocated below the focal points, the stability chara lneutral vor mid position after correcting for a With th foregoing considerations in mind, the present invention contemplates a rotor system in which'the hu'b Eis normally freelytiltalble in all directions. Forreasons brought out more fully hereinafter, in the preferred arrangement, the flapping pivots for `the blades are appreciably offset `from the axis of rotation and the hub is mounted1 for free tilting, as by a universal joint, Vabout a point located on the hub axis. Preferably also, the center point about which h ub tilting may takeplace is located-close to the horizontal plane.

containing the flapping pivot axeS,. most desirably slightly below that plane, so that when the blades assume their normal conedposition of. flight, the longitudinal axes of the blade intersect the center Beyond the foregoing, the Y provision for imposing periodic `"derential Vchanges of blade pitch, the means provided for this purpose constituting a rotor control system, which is couple'd up with the pilots flight control organ for effecting control in pitch and roll.

In contrast with `prior systems incorporating position lof ,the longitudinal and transverse 55 means for imposing periodic diiierental blader invention has .in viewA pitch change, the` system of thepresent invention provides for effecting such periodic changes vention, the tilting movement of the hub does' not alter the pitch position of the blades with reference to the hub.

In accordance with the foregoing, the control system of the present invention partakes somewhat of the character of a servo control, in the sense that the periodic differential changes of blade pitch areutilized for the purpose of causing the hub to float to and rotate in a different plane, this, in turn, bringing about a shift in the lift line of the-rotor with reference to the center of gravity of the machine and thereby introducing the desired control moment.

The invention further contemplates combining with the foregoing features suitable means for altering the mean geometrical pitch of the blade means, and more specifically the provision of a control system operative to regulate the .mean effective .blade pitch independently of the hub rotational plane and of adjustment of differential blade pitch; the operating connections of said control system and of the control for the differential Iblade pitch being so constructed and arranged as to secure this independence of adjustment.

Other operational characteristics and advantages of l.the system proposed by the present invention, including advantages of smoothness and stability, will be discussedmore fully hereinafter following a description of the accompanying y drawing, which illustrates a preferredv embodiment of the invention. 1

The single figure of the drawing is a vertical sectional View through a rotor hub and mounting parts therefor.

The hub is adapted tobe carried by xed structure I, appropriately attached to structural elements in the body of the machine. A gear casing 2 surmounts the support I and a supporting tube 3 projects above the gear casing, these parts cooperating with bearings I and 5 in which the rotative hub spindle 6 is journaled. At its lower end spindle 6 carries akgear I meshing with the pinion '8 adapted to be driven from a shaft .9

' through a clutch including cooperating complementary clutch dogs I0 and II.

In the case of a helicopter, the drive transmission is normally connected, the rotor beingr driven for normal flight, although the clutch isy manually disconnectible by means of a control I2 which may serve to move the clutch part I I downwardly against the spring I3. Moreover. upon engine failure,` eveny without actuation of the control I2, the clutch parts I0 and II (and spring I3) are arranged so as to act as an overrunning clutch, permitting the rotor to freelv overrun the drive, with the blades at autorotational pitch. 'Ihis may be relied upon in effecting descent without power in the helicopter type machine. On the other hand, in the case of an aircraft in'which the rotor is normally autorotatedin` flight, the

ldrive transmission would normally be disconnected, being coupled only for driving the rotor on the ground in-preparation for take-off.

Simultaneous change-over of the pitch of all blades in the same sense (by mechanism described hereinafter) is preferably employed in the event 'which will further appear,

of a changeover from a condition of power drive` of the rotor to a condition of autorotatlon of the ing a central tilting point indicated at C, about which point the hufb may freely tilt in any direction.

In considering the rotor blades and the attachment thereof to the hub, it is first pointed o out that in accordance with this invention, at least three blades are incorporated in the rotor, three being the preferred number for reasons The root end of one such blade appears at I'I at the left of the drawing. This root end is received in a sleeve I8 and is journaled therein for movement on an axis preferably substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the blade, so as to provide freedom for pitch change movement of the blade. Sleeve I8, in turn, is connected with the hub through flapping and drag pivots I9 and 20, respectively, it being particularly noted that the flapping pivot I9 is offset considerably from the axis of rotation of the hub.

A blade pitch control connection 2| extends inwardly from the blade itself into the hub, this connection being universally jointed at the intersection oi' pivots I9 and 20. The details of these pivot parts are not illustrated herein since they form no part of the present invention per se. However, a blade mounting of the type just described is fully disclosed in copending applica- 4o tion of Cyril George Pullin, Serial No. 331,318.

filed April 24, 1940, issued Ias Patent No. 2,337,570, December 28, 1943, and for further information on this structure reference may be made to said copending application. Within the hub, the pitch control connection 2I for each blade is provided .with an actuating arm 22 extending generally circumferentially of the hub preferably to a point angularly offset from the blade by about Only one blade with its arm 22 is shown, but

it will be understood that the preferred arrange-v ment includes three rotor blades, and three such arms 22 are thus located within. the hub I6. Each arm adjacent its free end is coupled to a control cable 29 or other equivalent operating means of the push-pull type. The cable 29 for the arm 22 shown in the figure is illustrated fragment-arily, on the far side of the rotor shaft 6.

The control cable 29 for one of the other rotor blade control arms is shown (broken of!) at the'- left hand side of the figure at an angular relationship 90 from the other one. This is only diagrammatic, since for a three-bladed rotor these cables would come up into the hub at an angular spacing of Each control cable 29 passes through Aa tube 30, the upper end of4 which is securedV to an appropriate part, such as ring 3| mounted on andy moving with the hub. 'Ihe other end of Ieach tube 30 'is connected with a bracket 32 projecting from and rotating with the h ub spindle 6.

The lower ends of cables 23 are attached to a' rotatable swashv ring 33 which is mounted by means of a bearing 34 on non-rotative swash member 35. 'I'he swash member 35 has a spheriy cal seat cooperating with part 3G.

1n orecr to cnstirc rotation or nnc n tnththc rotor, a scissors linkage 31-38 interconnects the ring'and the hub spindle 8. To accommodate the i" tilting movements of ring 33 and yet at the same time to ensure rotation of the ring with the rotor hub, appropriate joints are incorporatedin the scissors linkage.' Thus, simple pivot joints 39 are desirably'used between the two links 31 and 3 8, as well as between link 31 and the member r4I which rotateswithfthe hubspindlc. Joint 4|between .link 3`8 and ring 33 is-preferably a spherical or ball joint lying in a horizontal plane containing 'the center of tilting o f ring 33, -so

as to accommodate. the tilting movements, f

Non-rotative swash member (and thus also the rotative ring 33)' may be` tilted in any direction by means of a control lever 42. This lever-is mounted'by-means of a universal joint at 43 on a' xed bracket 44, the upper end of the lever carrying a ball 45 mounted withinal tube 46, the tube being slotted lat one side to permit freedom for relative vertical movement 'of- 'the ball; By -v tilting-the control lever 42 in any direction, the

ringa may similarly be caused to tilt in any direction..-

4'I'he spherical part 36 on which t efswash members are mounted is preferably m v'able vertically on the supporting sleeve 3, so asto provide for 4simultaneous change of the pitch of all `blades in the same sense, i. e.,.a change vin ,the

vthe following reasons:

ed to here inherent stabiity characteristics such as to make possible the use thereof with the freely floating hub and other features 'of this invention. The point just mentioned is of advantage for As 1s known, during transiational'nignt of an aircraft having blades pivoted to a hub which is not freely tiltable, the blades have-'a higher average-coning position on the retreating side of the rotor than on theadvancing side of therotor. In translational flight, the highest point is ordi- .narily reached when any particular blade has 4 passed a little beyond the forwardmost-position (for instance, about 30 beyond). Because of this,

witha hub having a fixed rotational axis, the

blades are asymmetrically disposed with respect to that axis, the position of each blade periodically changing from the high point to the low point, the latter being approximately diametrically opposite to the high point. Asaneffect of this variation in position of the blades with referenceto thephysical axis of rotation of the hub (in a system incorporating a hub having a fixed axis) periodic' angular excursions of the rotor lift line are set up, the excursions being in the direction'of the position of highest-coning in the circle of rotation.

Such periodic excursions are objectionable and,

' in addition, the factorsmentioned above also have mean effective pitch of -the rotor. Vertical movement of spherical member 36 is effected byv arm 48 with which the operating lever 49 is connected', through. the slot -and pin arrangement shown at 50.. 'Ihe connections of this control system, the connections 45 and 46 of. the tilting.

control, and the use of the Bowden controls hub follows the mean planeof rotation of the 29-30 between the swash blade. and theindividuai blade pitch control arms-z2, cooperate in'V securing independence of operation' of the simultaneous and differential pitch. controls relative to each other andtothe variations in plan of rotation of the hub. The change -of mean effective rotor blade pitch may be used as a night control (i. e., by causing a change of rotor thrust),

a tendency to introduce an out-of-pattern blade position when therotor is viewed in plan along the'rotor axis.

' By the employment of a free floating hub, and of napping pivots for the blades appreciably .offset from the hub axis, the plane of rotation of the blades, in consequence of which at least the major periodic excursions of the lift -line away from the rotational axis of the hub are eliminated. The

as a jump take-off control, as a means' for converting the rotor fromhelicopteil operation to autmotational operatnn (for example, upon engine failure), and'ffor other purposes With the foregoing structural features, in mind,

. attention isdirected to certain, operating charactei'istics. as follows:

I n the first place, witha rotor having atleast three blades pivotcuyconnccted with the hub on flapping' pivots voffset from the rotational axis,

the universaljoint 'i4' permits the hub to float I freely about the center point C .tothatposition in which the axis' oirotation of the hub itself constitutes a bisector of the angle between the )iblades at opposite sides of the rotor. For 'instance, considering the plane of the drawing, the

"axiso'f the cone formedwhen the blades assume arrangement, therefore, maintains the rotational axis of the hub always in a position of substan- -tial coincidence with the lift line of the rotor.

If irregular disturbances occur, suoli, 'for example, as an air b ump concentrated towardone 45 side of the rotor, the resulting movement of the blades as they pass the zone of the disturbance will cause the rotorhub to similarly'shift, the eiect of these movements being in the sense desired to correct for the disturbance. hWhen the disturbance has ceased, the rotor will return again to the normal position, because of the location of the rotor focal points well above the center C of tilting.-

Intruly vertical descent, the normal position of floating of the hubjwill be such that the axis on which the hub rotates will pass not only through the' tilting center C but also through the center of gravity of the aircraft. This,'of course, ignores secondary influences which may somewhat alter the condition justmentioned, such as the effect .of airflowover other surfaces of the machine, and

especially tail surfaces thereof.

O n the o ther hand, during high speed trans.

, lational flight, the differential lift eiect at opposite sides of the -rotor will tend to cause the hub to float to a position'in which itsaxis is angularly shifted considerably ahead of the center of Vgravity of the aircraft. According to the present intheir normal average coned .position of flight.

"' Ihe useof three blades is'important for the above "purpose, although it may. 'be noted that other rotor arrangements, for instance, incorporatingmore or less than three blades, may be construct-- vention, however, this may be controlled by imposing periodic diierential changes of blade pitch in a sense opposite to and compensating for the differential lift effects set upI as a result of higher air speed on the advancing side of the rotor than 4 on the retreatingY side.- Thus, as `translational flight speed is increased. it is contemplated that the mid position of the pilots control stick-will correspondingly be advanced. .Control for ma.- neuvering will, therefore, involve control stick displacement from the mid position required to maintain normal flight attitude under any particular condition of flight operation.

It is important to note in connection with the foregoing control system, that the periodic differential changes of blade pitch always take place with reference to the plane of rotation of the hub, rather than with reference to a plane fixed with respect to the body of the machine. In this way, the control actsin a sense as a servo means for controlling the plane in which the rotor will operate, the hub still remaining free under all conditions to rotate in a plane such that the axis scribed, is the employment of blade pivots arranged with the pitch change pivot located. outboard of the flapping pivot, i. e., outboard in the sense that pitch change movement of the blade does not angularly shift the position of the'ilapping pivot axis. This further contributes to the maintenance of a symmetrical blade pattern with respect to the floating hub member, as will be apparent if it be kept in mind that the pitch control mechanism for maneuvering imposes periodic differential changes of blade pitch. If the pitch mounting were located inboard of the flapping pivot, such differential pitch changes would set up a condition in which the flapping pivots occupied diiferent angular positions at different points in the circle of rotation.

Because of the characteristic just mentioned, and in view of other characteristics considered hereinbefore, it is contemplated in accordance with the present invention that the drag pivot which has heretofore customarily been used may even be eliminated. In any event, even if the drag pivot be employed, the characteristics discussed above will eliminate at least most of the forces heretofore encountered in flight tending to move the blades on thedrag pivots.

I claim:

1. For an aircraft, a sustaining rotor comprising a hub and at least three blades, each blade being pivotally connected with the hub on an axis offset from the rotational axis and providing freedom for swinging movement of the blade in a di^ rection generally transverse the mean rotative path of travel of the blades, means mounting the hub for tilting movement in all directions about a point on the rotational axis to provide for free floating to and rotation in different planes, and mechanism for controlling the plane of rotation of the rotor and thereby the position of the lift line comprising controllable means for differentially varying the pitch angle of the blades with the longitudinal axes of the several blades approximately intersect th said point. f l

3. For an aircraft, asustaining rotor comprising a hub and at least three blades, each blade being pivotally connected with the hub on an axis offset from the rotational axis and providing freedom for swinging movement of the blade in a direction generally transverse the mean rotative path of travel of the blades, means mounting the hub for tilting movement in all directions about a point on the rotational axis to provide for free floating to and rotation in different planes, and mechanism for controlling the plane of rotation of the rotor and thereby the position vof the lift line comprising a swash member mounted for controllable tilting independently of the position of said tiltable hub, and operating connections from said member to the blades adapted to effect periodic differential blade pitch change in predetermined relation to'the adjustment of the swash member regardless of position of the tiltable hub.

4. A constructiony in accordance with claim 3V in which the mountingmeans for the hub providesla center point for hub tilting located close to the horizontal plane of the blade pivots.

5. For an aircraft, a sustaining rotor comprising a hub and at least three blades, each blade being connected with the hub by a flapping pivot having its axis offset from the rotational axis of the hub and also by a pitch change mounting which is operatively interposed between the blade and the flapping pivot, means' mounting the hub for tilting movement in all directions to provide for free floating to and rotation in different planes, and mechanism for controlling the plane of rotation of the rotor and thereby the position of the lift line comprising controllable means for differentially varying the effective pitch angle of the blades with .respect to the floating hub in synchronism with its period of rotation, saidcontrollable means providing for maintenance of a' substantially given differential pitch variation (with reference to the hub), with a given control adjustment, regardless of the plane of rotation of the hub.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 5 in which the mounting means for the hub provides a center point for hub tilting located on the rotational axis of the hub.

7. For an aircraft, a sustaining rotor compris- Ying a hub and at least three blades, each blade being connected with the hub rby a flapping pivot having its axis offset from the rotational axis of the hub and also by a pitch change mounting which is operatively interposed between the blade and the flapping pivot, means mounting the hub for tilting movement in all directions to provide for free floating to and rotation indifferent planes, and mechanism for controlling the plane of rotationv of the the lift line comprising a'swash member mounted respect to the floating hub in synchronism Awith the period of rotation, said controllable means providing for maintenance of a substantially given differential pitch variation (with reference to the hubl, with a given control adjustment, regardless of the plane of rotation ofthe hub.

2.- A construction in accordance with claim 1 1in which the mounting means for the hub -provides a center point for hub tilting which point is slightly offset below the plane of the blade pivots, the degree o f 'oifset being such that when the blades are in the average coned position of flight,l

sition of said ti1talbe"hub,and operating connections from said member to the blades adapted to eil'ect periodic differential blade pitch change in predetermined relation to .the adjustment of the swash member regardless o'f position of the tiltable hub. Y

8. For an aircraft, a sustaining rotor comprisinga hub and at least three blades, each .blade being pivotally connected with the hub on an axis offset fromy the rotational axisand providing freedom for swinging movement in a direction generally transverse the mean rotative path of travel ofthe blades, means mounting the hub for rotor and thereby the position of plane of rotation on the rotor and thereby the position of the lift lirle comprising a swash member moimted for controllable tilting independently of the position oi' said tiltablel hub, and operating connections from said member to the blades adapted to eil'ect periodic differential blade pitch change in predetermined relation to the adiustment of the swash member; regardless of position of the tiltable hub.

9. For an aircraft, Vasustaining rotor comprising a hub and blade means, the latter being pivotaliy connected with the hub by means providing freedom for swinging movement in a direction generally transverse the mean rotative path of travel, means mounting the hub for tilting movement at least in an approximately fore-andaftdirection about a generally transverse axis substantially intersecting the rotor axis to provide for free floating to and rotation in diilerent planes, and mechanism for controlling the plane ofrotation of the rotor and thereby the position of the lift linecomprising a swash member mounted for controllable tilting independently of the position of said tiltable hub, and operating connections from said member to the blades adapted to effect periodic differential blade pitch change in predetermined relation to the adjustment of the swash member regardless of Dosition of the tiltable hub.

10. For an aircraft, a sustaining rotor comprlsing a hub and blade means, the latter being connected with the hub by means providing freedom for swinging movement in a direction generally transverse the mean rotative path of travel, and also by means operatively interposed between said iirst means and the blade and providing for pitch change movement, means mounting the hub for tilting movement in all directions to provide for free floating to and rotation in different planes, and mechanism for controlling the plane of rotation oi.' the rotor and thereby the position of the lift line comprising :controllable means for dierentially varying the effective blade pitch angle with respect tothe floating hub in synchronism with its period of rotation, including operating connections to the blade means adapted to eiect a substantially given differential pitch variation (with reference to the hub), with a given control adjustment regardless of the plane of rotation of the hub.

11. For an aircraft, a sustaining rotor com' prising a hub and blade means, the latter being pivotally connected with the hub by means pro. vlding freedom for swinging movement in a direction generally transverse the mean rotative path of travel, means mounting the hub for tiltand-aft direction about a generally transverse axissubstantially intersecting the rotor axis to provide for free floating to and rotation in different planes, mechanism for controlling the plane of rotation of the rotor and thereby the position of the lift line comprising controllable means for differentially varying the effective blade pitch angle with respect to the iloating hub in synchronism with its period of rotation, in` i cluding operating connections to the blade means adapted to effect a substantially given difierential pitch variation (with reference to the hub), with a given control adjustment regardless of the plane of rotation oi the hub, and means for altering the mean geometrical pitch of the blade means.

12. Forl an aircraft, a sustaining rotor comprising a hub and blade means. the latter being pivotally connected with the hub by means providing freedom for swinging movement in a dicluding operating connections tothe blade means adapted to eiect a substantially given diiierential pitch variation (with reference to the hub), with aI given control adjustment regardless of the plane of rotation of the hub, and a control system operative to regulate the mean eilectivel blade pitch independently of hub rotational plane and of adjustment oi.' differential blade pitch.

13. In an aircraft, a rotor comprising a hub member mounted to rotate about a generally upright aids, meansvmounting the hub member for tilting movement at least in one plane to provide for free iloating to and rotation in different planes. radially extending blades each havmember and said mounting member to provide for pivotal movement of the blade as a whole with respect to the hub, said pivot mechanism for each blade including a flapping pivot and a pitch change pivot, and controllable means for cyclically shifting the blades each as a unit on ing movement at least in an approximately fore its pitch change. pivot in synchronism with rotation of the rotor, the pitch change pivot for each blade being operatively interposedv between the napping pivot and the 4blade mounting member, whereby operation o! the cyclical vpitch controlmeans does not shift the position of the l ilapping pivot axis.

KENNETH P, SYNNESTVEDT. 

